This is not a Journal entry, but it does contain Stitches' notes and two treatment logs. To know what's going on, look at the format of the document: in normal format it's what's going on now, in italics with a heading is a flashback, in bold is her treatment log, and in italics with no heading is her notes. Sorry if this confuses anyone, but I wanted to get across exactly what Stitches is learning from the Nomads. However if it's in parenthesis and is stand alone in italics, then this is the voice of the Wood.

Sunsets and Swordfights

"Is everyone ok? No injuries?" I asked simply, as I surveyed my new friends for any wounds they may not have noticed yet from rushes of adrenaline. We had just survived an attack from a large pack of monsters, called 'hyenas' if I remember correctly. As we walked, I couldn't help but remember events of the past Six months since I joined the Clan.

The First week…

I had only been in the Clan for a few days and I had already adjusted to life in Rabanastre, performing small hunts with one of the others from time to time; when I wasn't studying Hume medicine. So far I had become friends with Butterfingers and I suppose you could say I was friends with Big; though he treated us all as friends.

Happy seemed to ignore me when she could, though I sensed that she didn't mean anything by it; while Witchblade always seemed to glare at Happy for being rude, like she was looking for any reason to kill her… quite odd that Witchblade.

Croaker and Vicious had already tried to get me to drink their foul smelling alcohol with them, which I politely refused; I do not drink alcohol often, though when I do I prefer the sweet smelling and tasting Vieran wine to whatever those two drank.

Tower was polite and did not speak to me often, though I could always see him looking at me through the corner of my eye; was he that unused to seeing a blue-eyed Viera? I admit people of my village hardly ever leave, but I do know of at least one other: a former Master Wood-Warder, who left some time ago.

The others never seemed to be around when I wasn't busy, so I did not get to speak to them.

We continued walking until the sun had begun to set along the horizon. I stood still in awe of the sight, back home in Salikawood we could never see the sun rise or set through the branches; I was so mystified that I almost didn't notice Big slipping his hand into mine. I was unsure of the gesture, I was probably over thinking it as looked down to our hands then to Big's face to see him smiling; wordlessly, I began to blush and turned my head to hide it.

"Ughhh...Stitches." He said plainly, I kept my head turned away from him as I replied with a curt "Yes?". I was practically praising the Wood when I heard Tower cough loudly, and after Tower made a comment about "fields of women" Big seemed to get agitated and suddenly took off after shouting that the Nomad Village was just ahead. I could not help but look at Big, as we say in Salikawood: "Like he had sprouted tentacles like a Malboro".

I let the wind cool my face as I dashed off into the race Big had proclaimed before running off himself, but stopped when I immediately realized that Big was not following anymore after I had passed him.

"Big, you will lose the race." I said quizzically pausing for a moment, "Is something wrong?" I continued as Big looked around like was looking for something. He said nothing… but he didn't need to. I soon heard a slight rustling of the dry grasses, my ears stood straight in alarm; someone was trying to sneak up on us. Seven knights in colored armor stood on a nearby ridge, the one in the middle spoke directly to Big. I watched as each of them, except for their obvious leader, readied their weapons. I may not know much of the world but I do know weapons… and each of them wielded high ranking weaponry; this fight would be difficult if they all attacked at once. "We are surrounded Big." I said slightly alarmed, I had been in several fights in my life- though never against seven well armed people. Big instructed me to relax, and in the time it took for me to take a deep breath the fight had already begun.

After a small conversation where their leader told us that they would deal with the monsters of Bur-Omisace, which Big contested to, Six of the Seven warriors scattered to fight with each of us. The Lighter Blue knight, an apparently Hume Female, charged at me with her Cloud Staff. She tried several times to pass my blocks and defensive parries, and soon she became frustrated to the point of casting spell after spell. Wasting her energy as I dodged nearly every spell. While I was busy dodging however, one of the other Knights had nocked an arrow aimed straight for my throat; but I had noticed it too late. I shut my eyes and hoped for favorable winds to catch the fletching and guide the arrow astray. But I did not hear the 'wisk' of the arrow being released, and opened one eye tentatively to see Big in front of the Knight holding the arrow in his hand. I nodded my head in thanks though I doubted Big noticed as he was too busy giving said Knight a thrashing. I returned to my fight and decided to end this now that the others were too occupied to notice what I would do. I twisted the hand guard on my Oaken Pole, causing a hidden blade to sprout from the top and become a pike. After spinning my weapon around a bit to readjust to the weight, I dashed at the "Tidal Brave" and crashed through her hastily raised defenses. At first most people think me innocent and harmless… but that's only half of who I am; I have seen bloodshed and battle-torn warriors coming home just to die later, but I would not let that happen anymore. I would save lives, not take them… never again. I have my secrets and would rather keep them that way for as long as I can, I had disarmed my opponent and re-hidden my blade just in time in time to see Big casting Firaga on a pair of the Braves.

"Big! I didn't know you mastered the 3rd Fire Magicks spell. Wh-When did you?" I asked with genuine surprise; I knew he was powerful, but I did not know he was this skilled with spells! Big simply stood and faced the Golden Brave, "Your really strong" I said a little louder than I intended. Big then instructed me and the others to let him fight the last brave alone, while the others immediately ran to the Nomad Village I stayed in protest.

Before Big and the Golden Brave could even begin to fight, an newcomer in a white suit walked up to the Golden brave from behind and simply slapped him far to the side.

"That guy can't beat you, Big Bucket. But I can..." Said the man in white. He then proceeded to walked up to us, disgracing the fallen warriors by stepping or kicked them in his way over to us.

"Kizer Zin, how ya been man?" said Big happily as he patted the man in whites shoulder, they must know each other. THe man then caught us both off guard when he punched Big with an uppercut and they proceeded to fist fight awkwardly.

"DOOOOOON'T HOW YA BEEN ME! YOU SONUVABITCH!" Yelled the man named Kizer when he started to strangle Big, I took a step towards them to help Big but by then he had already gotten Kizer off him on his own. I began to tell Big that I would see him at the Nomad Village now that the danger had passed. At first I thought this young man was a gentleman when he kissed my hand… then he asked something vulgar; I would have introduced his face to my heel, but I was too stunned by his words. I simply turned my head to Big with a stutter, hoping he knew what I should do. Big simply repeated his order from earlier, though this time I did as I was told; not wanting to be in this man's presence any longer.

I arrived at the Nomad Village and greeted the others, and I could seethe worry in their faces. I assured them that the Golden Brave had been taken care of for now and that Big would be along shortly. While we waited we asked the Nomad Leader if we could stay the night, he agreed but under the condition that we earn our stay by helping around the village. And so our group began to disperse to perform our new chores… when my ears twitched and a nauseous feeling came over me.

"Are you well Stitches?" Asked Tower with concern, he was one of the only two people here who knew me so I smiled hoping to reassure him that I was fine. I was so sure it had been something I had eaten making me nauseated, that was until I heard what the others could not from this distance: Big needed our help.

"No… Something's wrong, we have to help Big!" I said and sprinted off to where we had left him, the others getting the hint and following me as I dashed off with Vicious and Sly close behind; not caring if they asked about my curious increase of speed. Upon seeing Big on his hands and knees myself and several of the others shouted his name in worry. I skidded to a halt next to him, and gently turned him so he could lie on his back as to treat him safely without contaminating his wound with dirt and slowly as to not stretch the wound. "Lie down, I'll heal you ok?" I said to him as I surveyed his injury. It had been caused by a psychic, and magical damage of this caliber would be tricky to treat. I partially treated the wound on site, not long after which Big passed out from the pain, and once Big was stable Tower moved him to the Nomad Village so that I could treat him properly.

"Stitches." Said Big as he tried to get up, after moving him to the village the Healers here had assisted me in finishing his treatment. He had just woken up and was already trying to get out of bed, does he know no limits to his recklessness?

"Take it easy, your wounds were pretty severe. I healed you but it will take some time for the pain to subside." I nodded absently as I smiled at Big, hoping maybe- just maybe he would listen and stay down; sadly, I had no such luck. He sat up and patted his chest, seeing that there was not even a scar and that his clothes were even fixed.

"Where are we? And how long have I been out?" he asked as he re-armed himself with his nearby weapons. I informed him of our location in the nomad village and that he had been asleep for half the day, as I fidgeted in my seat; he should not be up yet… but would he ever listen to me on this matter? No, Big was too headstrong to listen to anyone if he had his mind set on something. But as the Clan Healer I tried anyway,

"Big, you probably shouldn't be up and about right now." I said plainly, but he just jumped to his feet and winced before limping out of the tent and into the settlement. I sighed and followed him out. "The nomads said we can stay here free of charge if we did a little work for them. I've been healing a few of the nomads here, while mostly everyone else was put on guard detail." I said as I looked about to the others. Then something happened that made me madder than I have been in a very long time. I was so mad I still can't even speak of it! All you need to know is that hopefully Kizer Zin has learned not to mess with me.

"She wants me." He said with a nod wiping the blood from his nose. I snarled and turned away from the lecherous vermin. Big asked what he had been doing and what he said made me even angrier. This lazy good for nothing had hypnotized the Village Leader after he had been so kind to us. I snapped my Oaken Pole to "Big Bunny's" neck,

"Unforgivable! They aid us by giving us a place to stay and all they ask for in return is a little work on your behalf. Have you no shame? Undo that veil of mockery from his eyes at once psychic." I said furiously, but all his did was look at Big and I before laughing like I had said something unbearably funny before stating that he refused to release the Village Leader from his spell. "Big, I don't like him! All he ever does is try to touch on us female members and say nasty provocative things." I fumed, and Big seemed fairly surprised to see me like this… if he only knew how normal this had been for me back home. At that thought Bunny told me to keep my mouth shut or he would reveal my secret, I only had one and that was my true self. I was mortified that he had read my mind and dashed away from him and hid behind one of the tents. I have never hated anyone in my entire life… but this man deserved all of my hatred. He was rude and vulgar to the female members of the Clan, he was arrogant and selfish, he nearly killed Big, and now he had the gall to suggest that he was now a member of this Clan? While it was not my place to say who is and who is not in the clan I had hoped that Big wouldn't allow him… but he did. I sighed as I tried to subdue my anger, and before too long the ground began to shake and I heard… clucking from not too far away.

A strange monster that looked like an oversized version of the birds the Nomads kept in pens, along with it's smaller ilk that seemed to be it's children, stormed into the camp and began wrecking everything in their paths. I rushed into battle, hoping to take out my anger on this beast, with Tower close behind me; he had been on lookout nearby and I had somehow only just noticed he had been there. Tower jumped at the beast with his Scorpion Tail only to be struck down. My stomach turned at the sound of the monster's beak rending his clothing and flesh. The monster rose it's head to peck at Tower again, but I sprinted to intervene and slid across the ground and past the creature grabbing one of Tower's arms and pulling him out of the way with me. It would be simple enough to mend the massive gash. Thankfully it was not deep enough to endanger his heart or lungs and had missed his breastbone my mere inches; if that had been shattered then there would have been no hope for him to survive. I concentrated on healing Tower and let the others finish the fight. Apparently this monster was a mark that Big had accepted but forgotten about so the villagers thanked us and we received our pay for dealing with this beast.

When we left the village, I waved goodbye to the healers and the children who were sad to see us go so soon. I had learned much in our short stay in the Nomad Village, they had allowed me to take detailed notes of their healing practices and to keep small samples of the herbs and salves they used. In particular they showed me a salve used to alleviate pain long enough for broken bones to be set.

Magick can only do so much, broken bones in particular cannot be healed through magic effectively and doing so can often lead to it setting improperly and breaking further in the future. Knowing this could be helpful since Big was not the only member who had reckless tendencies… though mostly him. They also showed me how to craft a make-shift splint to set the bones after hearing that Viera do not normally need this treatment, so I had never been taught, as our bones do not break as easily as Humes.

Stitches has learned: How to set broken bones and "Bone Break Salve"!

We left Giza behind and crossed into the Ozmone Plain, not bothering to find the village that the Healers of Giza had told me of, I had hoped to learn more from them- but I suppose I will have to settle for another time. We were in a hurry anyway so I did not mind. We passed through the Ozmone Plains so quickly it was like we were never even there. We soon came to the entrance to Golmore Jungle, the home of the Eyrut Viera. After Croaker gave Bunny a piece of her mind for his perversion, Big asked me to speak with the forest, not knowing I was not off this Wood; Still I tried. I clasped my hands together in front of my chest and bowed my head, the magicks of my people manifesting as a kind of white wind that whirled around me picking up leaves and scattered seeds.

"Do not approach… dangerous… die." whispered the Wood, I turned to my friends and gave them the disappointing news. The Wood would not allow us entry, if we persisted she would surely send her children to destroy us. Despite the Woods warning, we had no choice and entered regardless of her will. I had never defied the Wood, even if this Wood was not my own it still unnerved me to go against her will. I was right to be wary of the Woods wrath, as soon we were encountered a Treant: a powerful construct created to guard the paths alongside the Wood-Warders… which meant that one was close. After we defeated the Treant with great difficulty, the Wood-Warder I had expected showed herself and unlike the Wood-Warders of my home she was not happy to guide us though… no she held her bow nocked and ready to cut us down. My eyes widened greatly, for this was an Elite Wood-Warder- the largest and Strongest of our race who were conditioned far more strongly against leaving the Wood. When we were surrounded by Treants and a few more Elites and Big gave the order to scatter- by the Wood I bolted! I had thought myself safe when I stopped to catch my breathe; how wrong I was. I had knelt over from a muscle spasm in my side and by the time is subsided and I stood straight once more… an arrow was jabbed into my back and I raised my hands in defeat. I had been caught and brought to the Vilage of Eyrut. I looked similar to my Village, though as we passed the small spring in their central courtyard I smiled knowing that ours was both larger and contained a fountain; as Butterfingers might say, "Salika Viera: one, Golmore Viera: nothing!" My thoughts caused my pace to slow which earned me another jab from an arrow tip.

The Elites cast me into a stone hut with a wooden ceiling, I tried to make my entry dignified but they were too strong for me and I was cast harshly to the floor.

"Well at least I'm imprisoned with not one but two beautiful women!" came the voice I detested from a nearby seat. I stood up and brushed myself off before casting a scowl at Big Bunny.

"Oh give it a rest ya lech!" Shouted Croaker in frustration as she sat as far from Bunny as she possibly could. Hours passed and our hope of rescue dwindled, but I soon heard a commotion outside the hut. Down by the village entrance someone was fighting their way through. 'Big is here with the others!' I thought to myself, my relief evident on my face. Big Bunny would not need to be a mind reading psychic to know what I was overjoyed about. We waited as the noises grew closer, then with a large explosion is went quiet. The silence was a torture that was soon broken by another explosion and a loud yet masculine scream of pain, then another moment of agonizing silence before a final explosion. Moments later our would be rescuers were also cast into the cell… Big's tattered body being nearly thrown in. I rushed to catch him and wept at the sight of him. His body was covered in burns, his clothes still there but ragged and missing in places. My heart felt hollow, and that's when I knew… I loved him. The Elites had taken my salves and equipment so there was only so much I could hope to do to save him. My eyes blurred from tears, the others giving me space despite there worry for his life, and I placed my hands over his chest to begin the agonizing process of healing his wounds with what little magick I had left.

Treatment Log #2

Subject: Big Bucket

Injury: severe burns induced by three consecutive Flare spells.

I did not have any kind of salves to work with and started by casting cure to stabilize him before checking for a pulse. It was faint, but there; I checked his breathing and found it ragged. I cast cura to heal his injuries further and checked his pulse again this time placing my ears to his chest for a significant heartbeat… it was failing- then stopped altogether. I immediately used a small thunder spell concentrated in my fingertips to jolt his heart back. Checked again and this time it was beating at a steady rhythm. Two more Cura's later and Big was only bruised but I was exhausted and sat beside him and did the only thing left that I could do… Pray that he would make it.

My skills as a healer were sufficient to heal him but I was still unsure he would make it. I wept silently as I held my clasped hands tightly to my chest and bowed my head in prayer to the Wood that Big would survive. I may not be a child of the Golmore Jungle but I was hoping my prayers would be heard and that she would take pity on Big. Vicious' grumbles broke my concentration with four simple words, "Damn that Viera Bitch!" My eyes opened in angry slits as I turned to him.

"Which one did this?" I asked him with the venom of a snake in my words. He cringed slightly at my unexpected fury and responded with one word, "Jote". I knew of her, she was the leader of this Village. My rage began to boil inside me, fury that I had tried so hard to subdue; If Big dies because of her… there would be no prison short of Nalbina that would hold me and Jote would die by my hand!

"Calm… look" whispered the voice of the Wood. I looked around and jumped back, falling into Sly's lap in shock of seeing Big begin to stir- then his body shimmered and shifted into that of a female Viera! I looked to my friends, who looked just as shocked as I did when Big stood and turned to us with questioning eyes. I stood from Sly with a whisper of an apology, and joined in the awkward chorus of us telling Big he had turned into a Viera. His appearance had changed significantly but still retained aspects of his true self. He still had the two gold earrings on his left ear, though now they clinked audibly together when he turned his head. His skin had maintained it's tone; a Veena Viera's tone slightly darker than my own. His hair had become white and his braid had become significantly longer and when he turned I could see that it reached his rear. But his eyes were unchanged, still the color of sun-warmed soil.

Big seemed devastated by his transformation, falling to his knees in despair after hurriedly examining himself. Almost immediately, Bunny was at his same tricks again and had his hands of Big's… chest and was saying the same provocative things. Needless to say, Big became as angry as one of us would have; perhaps he now understands why we detest this miserable piece of slime? Of course I did not expect Tower to say or do something perverted as well, easily earning himself the same treatment that Bunny received. Vicious, Croaker and I walked over to big, hoping maybe one of us could think of something to say to our leader.

"I...I don't understand, how could a Hume...become a..." I started to say, before Vicious and Croaker cruelly began to laugh at Big's predicament. I wanted to ask Vicious how he would feel had it been him in Big's stead, but before I could Big began to speak.

"I think I know how...The Wood." He said, causing my ears to stand straight in alarm.

"The Wood? You spoke with the Wood?" I asked him, though I knew that speaking to the Wood was as natural to Viera as breathing- Big had no true connection to either Golmore or Salika… so the wood should have no reason to speak to him. My ears then began to twitch and I looked down to Big's right hand, he rose his hand to get a better look at it; I took hold of his hand and examined the blue glowing rune that was now written on his skin. I looked from the seal then up at Big, I had to fight not to blush from how close we were and concentrated on the rune. "This appears to be a seal of some sort, try applying mana to it." I instructed, not that they knew but Sealing spells were a part of my heritage- those this one was foreign to me. Big did as I bade him and in moments there was a flicker of light around him and he was a male Hume once more; he was fairly happy to see that he could return to his true self. "It seems that seal, has the ability to turn you into a Viera. I would assume only the Wood could do this." I surmised as I continued to examine the rune, a marvel of magick that I would probably never understand.

Croaker then proceeded to question Big quite rudely about what exactly happened for him and the others to land themselves in the Viera prison.

"Well, I'm not really sure myself. When Vicious, Sly, Tower and I came in to rescue you guys we failed. The Viera got us and all I remember was Jote knocking me out with the Flare Spell. But after that...I talked to Golmore Jungle. The Wood, as the Viera call it...it contacted me while I was unconscious." Big explained, reminding me of what Jote had done to him but ignored my rising anger.

"I see...but why you?" I asked him, truly wishing to know the answer; the Wood, neither Golmore or Salika, has never spoken to a complete stranger before at least not that I was aware of. Big then proceeded to explain that the Viera of Golmore and the jungle it's self are not our enemies; when Vicious asked who our true enemy was, she simply turned back into a Viera and the cell door unbarred before him.

"Follow my lead, we're going to see the Jote." Were the last words he said before we departed the prison together.

We walked through the Village of Eruyt until we located Jote, the entire time we traveled through the village no one tried to apprehend us… they looked beyond bewildered that an unknown Viera was at the head of our band and had escaped their detection. Upon approaching Jote, I fought with my inner anger and stood behind Big as Jote called him an abomination before returning our weapons and equipment. When Big returned to his true form and finally spoke of a danger to this Wood, Jote dismissed him and his offer for help.

"Big, they do not deserve our help. I say we leave immediately." I said loudly with the authority I had been raised to show evident in my voice. It was one thing to be turned down when offering aid to the worthy, but an entirely different thing to be snubbed by those who did not deserve the aid they needed. I was very surprised to hear Big Bunny joining me in my opinion. Croaker then interrupted stating the true fact that we still needed to get to Paramina and Mt Bur-Omisace beyond. As Big explained that the Wood was our latest client I began to wonder in we were suddenly becoming akin to Wood-Warders.

"BLASPHEMY!" Jote practically screeched, and I was beginning to think her half Zuu; an annoying creature who no one save for it's own kind can stand. "The Wood would not speak with a mere hume!" She continued, and Big raised his hand to show her what I would suspect we could call "The Mark of the Wood" for lack of a better name, showing that he had indeed been granted the Woods personal favor. To someone other than a Viera, Jote seemed calm though a little put off- but I was no Hume and could practically feel the fury that seethed off her from being put in her place by a Hume. Big then turned away from her and donned his weapons,

"Once we've gotten rid of this calamity, remember the name of the Clan that did you this favor and sing it in your lullabies. We're Clan Infamous." He said before walking off, the rest of us following suit. If I could not show Jote the pain she had caused Big first hand, I suppose I would settle for knowing she had been told off by the very same Hume she had hurt so badly; though getting to watch it happen made knowing it even better.

As we stepped past the illusion that hid the village, I realized that the air felt… lighter some how; though it still held a slight ominous taint to it, no doubt from the monster we were about to hunt.

"Well anyway what's this mark that the Wood wants us to get rid of?" Croaker questioned as she looked to Big. My ears twitched forward as I caught a small noise in the distance. I informed the others of it and closed my eyes to listen closer. Tower then broke the silence as he asked what I had heard,

"It's a plant monster, and it's absorbing the life mist from the trees in The Wood. Why couldn't I sense or hear it before?" I said both to the others and to myself as I placed my hands to my head in worry. Bunny then spoke and oddly enough he did not say something that made me want to hurt him… I wondered why but had no time to ask. Big announced it was time to get to work and asked me if I could pin point the location of the monster. "Yes about three miles in that direction there, just north of our location now. But Big, can I speak with you about something first?" I said, hoping to get something off my mind before the fight. Big nonchalantly asked what the issue was, and suddenly everyone's eyes were on me. At that point it became harder and harder to fight the blush that was sneaking onto my face.

"Alright boys, time to move. Let's leave these two alone." Croaker said suddenly with a light smile as she ushered the others away. I fidgeted as I waited for them to leave and once they were big once again asked me what was wrong. Big began to talk about me wanting a raise in pay and I immediately rose my hands to stop him,

"N-No it's not that! It's not about a raise I...um...it's about uh...well." I began to explain, but by the Wood it was so hard to say it to his face! So I turned around as Big began to ask if I was feeling well, and said what my heart wished to be spoken; loudly but not so loud that the others might hear.

arms.

"BIG BUCKET, SIR! I LOVE YOU..." I blurted not really knowing what I should say and hoping he wouldn't laugh at my display. I turned back to him, the most difficult part of my confession now over. Big looked… stunned put simply and I began to wonder if telling him this now was as good an idea as it sounded in my head. .

"If...if you don't mind me asking...why? What have I...done to make you feel this way about me?" he asked after a few seconds, he seemed like he was fighting to speak. I did not expect him to ask me why, in truth I could not fully explain it but I did my best to try.

"Well despite the circumstances before with you becoming a Viera, you are still you. I like how confident you are all the time, and how you always seem to know what to do in the darkest situations. Not only that but you're really nice and you've been so patient with me despite me not knowing much about the world of Humes...you're always so warm to me. I don't know why but my heart races with every word you speak to me, when I see your hurt or if you're in danger. I feel the need to act! My elder told me, when I feel this way about someone...it means I'm in love. So..." I explained with my eyes cast to the side, hoping that my explanation made at least a little sense. In truth I never expected him to feel the same, though I don't know if he does or not, I smiled and assured him that I would wait as long as it took for him to tell me how he felt before lightly giving him a kiss on the cheek; for good or for bad I would wait. I then jogged off to return to the group before they came looking for us, with a smile on my face and a lighter heart after telling Big at least one full truth about myself.

Holy Hell! This has to be the longest thing I have ever written! I mostly wrote this as one chapter to get caught up with K Entertainment, now we should be at least close to being on the same page. Though I tend to get side tracked by things so K if your reading this, please don't bother to wait for me too much okay? I have some personal issues that tend to stop me from writing effectively so this is my gift to everyone: a nice long chapter! Sorry if it sounds like a regurgitated rewrite of the original, I didn't want to stray too far from the storyline.